Extra Warmth Comforters and Bedspreads Guide

With many products out on the market it’s hard to choose the right comforter for you, especially when purchasing online so we’ve created a comprehensive guide for you. Here is a review of Extra Warmth Comforters and Bedspreads to help you learn everything you need to know before purchasing your next comforter or blanket.

We’ve our list below into four different categories (wool, fleece, down and electric). We have also given some examples at different price points (budget and luxury) and highlighted the benefits of the two.

Our choice for durability: Wool (6/10 on our warmth scale)

Wool comes in many different types including basic sheep’s wool, mohair wool, angora wool, all the way to Merino and Cashmere Wool. Though all ranges have different qualities, one main advantage of wool is its durability. Wool is a highly practical fiber and thus is easy to clean. Wool is also unsurpassed in flexible strength in shape for its entire lifetime. Wool is also flame resistant as well as noncombustible due to its moisture content.

Fleece comes in a variety of types as well, ranging from Minky or ‘Cuddle’ fleece to Micro Fleece. Fleece is well known as one of the softer fabrics and is commonly used for baby blankets. Fleece is medium in warmth and comes in a variety of fun colors.

Our choice for over-all value and breathability: Down (8/10 On Our Warmth Scale)

Down, outside of electric, is highest on the scale of warmth. Down usually has a soft shell, typically made of micro fibres, and is filled with either synthetic ‘down’ or goose feathers. The advantage to goose feathers is the blanket traps in heat extremely well without the heaviness.

Down will set you back in cost however when an item is popular, there is usually a reason. Goose down is able to hold in heat because of its loft and height. The more loft (the filling) a down blanket has the warmer the blanket will keep you. Typically, when a blanket has more filling the more the user will sweat which makes sleeping uncomfortable, the benefit to down which is almost unique to down is its warmth combined with breathability. The breathability of this type of blanket pulls moisture away from the body maintaining comfort while the user sleeps. This is why down blankets are so popular.

Our choice for warmth: Electric (10 out of 10 on our warmth scale)

Finally, electric. Electric blankets generate heat on their own because they have insulated wire and heating elements in the fabric. These elements actually heat up when plugged into the wall creating the heat for the blanket user. Electric blankets range in materials used, their obvious main advantage is that the blanket does not rely on the individual using the blanket to generate their own heat but rather generates the heat for the individual.

Though these types of blankets heat the body up faster due to their elements the blankets don’t tend to be the most breathable. This blanket is more ideal for colder rooms and temperatures.

In our eyes, all these blankets have their value. It really does depend on several factors of the individuals like their geographic location, the time of year, the individual’s body and their preference for how the blanket feels. Having a variety of blankets within the home helps especially in colder climates like Canada, while one type of blanket may acceptable for areas with less extreme seasonal change like India. It may be cheaper to invest in fleece vs. down however the buyer has to decide whether they are willing to be more adaptable to changes in heat and possibly sweating throughout the night. The true value lies in the quality of materials and knowing your body type.